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Blog Update: What is Happening With Faith

Hey guys. First, I would like to apologize for causing alarm with my previous post. I realize now that I’ve been bad about posting updates on what’s happening with Faith now that she is retired from service work, so I imagine that last post came as a surprise to many people.

I have done my best to slowly wean Faith off of service work. However, she is not taking it well at all. She has become very depressed not being worked, and she is developing separation anxiety. This is a dog who has worked her heart out for me for many years, and she loves to do so. She’s having trouble understanding why she can’t do what she used to do. However, despite her insisting otherwise, I cannot ethically work a dog in her condition. Nor can I expect an active herding breed dog to live her life in a tiny dorm room while I’m away at classes and at work. It isn’t fair to her.

So, I have made the very difficult decision to send Faith home to live with family. I’m hoping that a change in environment (and being away from me) will help ease her separation anxiety and her depression. If living with family doesn’t work out, I have a fantastic retirement home lined up for her who understands exactly what is going on, has experience with dogs in her situation, and has graciously volunteered to take her. I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that point though.

She does have a consultation scheduled this February for a total hip replacement surgery. I will keep everyone updated on how that goes.

In the meantime, I will continue to keep this blog up and running, and I will continue to answer questions from people.

Thanks for all the love and support ❤ ~ Lex (& Faith.... & Defiance)

#service dog #trainingfaith #retired service dog #hip dysplasia #canine hip dysplasia #separation anxiety #depressio #dog depression

Had a great time at the mall with Caper the SDiT & his handler Ella. We worked on heeling, recalls, long down stays under heavy distractions, ignoring obnoxious people, maneuvering though tight places, reverse heeling, and ignoring food. At the food court, we purposefully picked the dirtiest table with the most food left on the ground. The dogs got to practice not only leaving dropped food, but leaving food next to another dog.

Ella and I were discussing having a local SD (& SDiT if they are ready) meetup this August before I leave for college if anyone is interested. Any Washington DC area service dogs out there? :)